Quote of the Day

Sigh.

Was your dog raped this morning?

-Eric Burns, in a rather sad and disgraceful (and low locked) comments thread at Websnark. Not surprisingly, William G. was involved, though atmittedly he has promised to stab himself in the eye with a fork (because he got involved in "drama" not because he was trashing Penny Arcade's charity, kind of sad...).

Thought #1: I don't think I'll ever understand how the mere mention of Penny Arcade seems to bring out the worst in people. I mean, you mention to someone how an online charity effort has raised hundreds of thousands for sick children and people generally have good thoughts...But mention that Gabe and Tycho were behind it, and the teeth come out. "They must have some hidden agenda", they spit. "Do they really mean it?", they wheeze. I cannot see where someone can object to Penny Arcade running a charity, on any grounds, unless they have an irrational hate of Penny Arcade. That goes way, way beyond any actual criticism of what Penny Arcade is and steps into catfight territory.

Thought #2: When it comes to the policing of online communities, I tend to like the places that allow the balls to the wall, dirty as hell kind of online flaming/cage match drama that you could see building in that thread. Eric Burns does not stand for that sort of thing. However, there is such an acidic side to the webcomics community (moreso than even videogame console wars, I think) that I can see why Mr. Burns does what he does. He wants Websnark to be a place full of well thought-out discussion and characterized by generally good feelings. He wants his place to be a candle in the darkness forcing back the kind of acidic idiocy and hate that (at least I think) William G. regularly dips into.